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Yes Folks, the DROID RAZR is Unlockable Everywhere in the World But the U.S.

We touched on this twice last week when the DROID RAZR was announced, but since it seems to be getting an enormous amount of play today and over the weekend, we thought we would bring it up one last time. So here we go.

Yes folks, the brand spankin’ new DROID RAZR by Motorola is locked in the U.S. “per the carrier.” The international version known just as the Motorola RAZR will be unlockable unless specific carriers decide to have it locked. The plan though, is for the phone to be unlockable everywhere outside of the states. We heard from Motorola twice last week confirming this both on Facebook and Twitter.

So to explain it one more time, we will say this as plainly as possible: Verizon told Motorola to lock the DROID RAZR and they complied. (According to Moto.)

We have talked about this for about a year now actually – that carriers are the ones that ultimately have the decision. This would be why most of HTC’s portfolio is now partly unlockable except on Verizon and AT&T’s networks.

Are we surprised by this Big Red decision? Not really. As unfortunate, annoying, frustrating, cringe-worthy, and ridiculous as locking things down may be to most of us, you could have predicted this if you have been with the carrier for a number of years. Remember back in the early 2000s (before the smartphone took off) when the rest of the world was doing something as simple as creating their own ringtones? Verizon’s feature phone software was able to block you from doing so. It’s history and little things like this that make this decision feel, well, sort of expected. And this is just another reason why we are making such a big deal of the Galaxy Nexus. This may be the only unlockable phone we get for a while.

On a related note, if you want this phone in the U.S. as an unlockable device, know that phone importers are already working to bring it in. That means you won’t be able to use it on Verizon though and will instead have to shoot for AT&T’s 3G. At least you can experience that thin body without a chastity belt.

We have reached out to Verizon hoping to get some clarity on their stance.

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All in all though I got to say, I’m very happy with my Bionic and love the way it looks. I’m not having issues like allot of people so I guess I just got a good one, thank God, I really have no desire to root right now. I came from a Droid1 and was rooted for two years with various ROMS. I usr Launcher Pro Plus with signal23 Themes and my look is basically the same as far as the launcher. I love my Droid Bionic…..

Anonymous

Locking a phone down sucks, and whats worse is that going to another carrier sucks because of the 4G. I can’t think of using a phone without it now. V’s 4G is just so fast, when I switch over to 3G it drives me crazy, I have to have that speed now. I’m addicted. The other carriers just don’t cut it.

Now’s as good a time as any to leave VZ. I left them years ago because they were crippling all their feature phones and disabling native features (such as transferring photos to your PC) so they could charge you obscene prices to use their added services. I came back for the droid, while AT&T was ignoring Android.

Now I’m feeling locked down and restricted, so it’s time to switch. I love Sprint for their plans and attitude but CDMA limits our choices – as does Verizon’s network – especially if you want a global phone. It’s not usually too painful as both Sprint & VZ offer a good selection but it’s times like these where the price we pay for using CDMA, American carriers becomes quite pointed. Incidentally, this is because Sprint & VZW refuse to allow any devices that aren’t theirs. At this point, you’ll always have more flexibility on a GSM carrier.

Anonymous

FU motorola.

I was debating between the new nexus & the razr. Thanks for making my decision easier.

Djmd2g

Im about to leave verizon this is getting silly. verizon is so worried about rooted phones that they are gonna lose customers. Verizon is starting to suck

This is when we hit up Verizon’s FB, just like when people hit up Moto’s FB, and complain about them forcing Moto to lock their bootloaders. If we have a big enough voice, Verizon will eventually comply with our demands just as Moto did with other carriers.

Anonymous

Ya know,I would probably take a look at the Razr IF it were unlocked. Since it is not, I won’t even bother. Gonna look at getting the Rezound or Nexus. Moto best be talking to Verizon about the locked crap or they’ll be playing second fiddle….see the Bionic fiasco….

vernon

as much as i want to support an american company like motorola, i won’t if they keep doing things like this.

Anonymous

I hope you’re right!

Anonymous

Verizon is lucky as hell that they have a good network, because they suck at just about every other aspect of being a network and providing good customer service.

Seeing how Samsung can release unlocked, non Nexus phones (AFAIK the Fascinate, the Continuum, the DROID Charge, and the Stratosphere) on Verizon all day I’m not thinking that Motorola is trying very hard to get these phones unlocked. I’m thinking they lock them by default, come to Verizon and ask meekly if they can unlock it. Samsung just does it until Verizon asks them not to.

This is pretty much what I expected from Verizon but I’m still disappointed.

I just wanted to talk about the RazR, but it seems like you all have a great debate about your “American conception of property”.

I will come back later 😮

I wonder if I own a part of the European sky…

Anonymous

You know…we don’t know if the Galaxy Nexus actually has an unlocked bootloader…we are just assuming. VZW could totally find a way to keep this thing locked. Just something to keep in mind.

Anonymous

as long as it isn’t encrypted(which only moto does) then it will be easily cracked. Same with every other samsung device and just about every device that isn’t a moto.

Anonymous

The reason that Verizon doesn’t care about bootloaders is because a locked bootloader literally affects less than 0.01% of the subscriber base. Even if they lost every single person who has “vowed to leave” because of that policy, I guarantee they will still add more new subscribers than they will lose

Anonymous

Word of mouth kills. I’ve told others about the locked deal and how it’ll limit what can be done on the phone. They say ‘oh,then I want nothing to do with that!’. Amazing huh. A whole lotta folks root and rom their phones,just look at the poll on this site. Top spot. It affects their sales and the buzz surrounding the device.

Pennywise

I’ve been saying this for over a year. Take a guess on whether or not the “GNEXOMGLOLBBQAHHHHH” will have a locked bootloader on Verizon’s network… Anyone?

Locked or not, both the RAZR and the GNEX look like fantastic phones!! And Big Red’s is still the best network (LTE FTW!)

Anonymous

so can anyone clarify this for me… i don’t remember where but i do remember reading somewhere that it said that the global phones will come WITH the oem unlockable relockable bootloader software and the verizon one will come WITHOUT the oem unlockable relockable bootloader software… this says to me that it might simply be a matter of flashing said software to phone… or has someone directly said it will come with a different bootloader?

Bummer. I would have considered this along with the G-Nex. Onscreen buttons are cool but there is just something I liked about the soft keys. I’m sure this phone will still have a good developer base behind it, but could have been a lot bigger if it was unlocked. If someone doesn’t mind explaining how Verizon has the final say on the locked/unlocked? I was thinking the other way around since Motorola seems to be huge with Verizon and DROID, they would have enough pull to do it how they want…

Dieringer

Oh god.. Angelface is going to be all over this about how moto is awesome bla bla bla

You guys should not be chastising Moto, after all, Verizon is the one locking all the phones. If anything, everyone should be voting with their wallets and moving to other carriers, until Verizon gets the message. The only thing that will make Verizon change things is if this policy hurts them financially. So, stop blaming Motorola and grab those pitchforks and head to your local Verizon store!

Anonymous

too bad samsung, htc and lg all are not encrypted and able to be unlocked. Sorry I will vote with my money and moto won’t be getting any of it=)

Won’t the super uber Android hackers be able to have this rooted and unlocked within a couple of weeks? It will have to be a SW lock in my opinion because they do not want to have to manufacture versions just for the US.

Anonymous

no moto bootloader has been cracked yet, rooted yes it will but don’t get your hopes up for it to be cracked anytime soon.

good luck, then you will be able to do something no other developer has been able to do over the past year or so with the moto devices that have been encrypted.

Davros

which is exactly why i wont preorder the nexus. if its locked ill pay the early termination fee and take my buisness somewhere else. ive had enough. ill take a slightly lesser network with a lesser price

Missthetrain

Whatever Big Red does depends on its biggest competitor (AT&T aka Cingular aka Bells). Remember the old “Crippled” Razr? Remember all the “Crippled” bluetooth?
Remember all the “Crippled” ringtones? Remember Vcast?…I can go on
and on… The only reason Big Red can do and get away with everything it did is because the other guy (AT&T aka Cingular aka Bells) has been, it’s now, and will forever be an “avoid at all cost” company.

Granted

I remember having that one program, it had a weird name, they you used on your computer to put custom ringtones on your phone. For the life of me I can’t remember it’s name though. But I do remember how awesome it was to finally have bands like Dog Fashion Disco and MSI as ringtones on my phone.

I think this blog should just go ahead and change it’s name to either Nexus-Life or Bootloading-Life, it is pretty clear that the blog and 98% of it’s audience hates the Droid.

I mean seriously.

Anonymous

Sadly, I am in agreement with you. Shouldn’t all this Nexus stuff be posted on the Android Life sister sites? How did a non DROID phone manage to hijack this entire site?

Craig

Leave it to Verizon to take a perfectly good
phone, lock it down, disable key features, and then fill it with
bloatware. Add onto this all their plan limitations plus the lies about
unlimited data and you have a poor excuse for a product / service.

Instead of complaining all we can do is vote with our wallet. I prefer
using my Galaxy S2 as I bought it unlocked and out of the box it was a
near perfect experience. I originally purchased it for global roaming as
I was never happy with my Droid 2 or Droid 3. Recently I have been
using it on AT&T and I have been pleased. I won’t sign a contract
with any carrier and I doubt I will be buying a phone from Verizon again
unless they stop crippling their devices.

Gary

I purchased 4 original Droid phones for members of my family. I have since purchased both the DroidX and the Droidx2. I have been with Verizon since 1994 and have used mostly Motorola during that time. I will not purchase a locked down Moto rasr unless the dev’ s can get around it. I feel the same way about the Nexus. I will wait to see what Verizon and other carriers do and then decide on a phone. I am currently paying Verizon $30 per month for data plans on 5 phones ($150 total) and we don’t use 5 gb for all 5 phones. I will not pay an additional $20 per month for a hotspot that is only used to tether a wifi only tablet on rare occasions that traditional wifi is not available. I am paying $1800 a year now for less than 5gb of data monthly. Verizon needs a family data plan that is reasonable if they want to keep my business,

I predict that the GNEX will be locked up on Verizon and after they lose exclusivity, it will show up w/o a locked bootloader on other carriers. Should still be an amazing, i*hone-crushing phone though.

Bionic

Lame

Bionicman

i’m guessing the GNex will be locked but they’ll make it easy to unlock (maybe an option in settings? or through desktop software). or maybe im just hoping lol

Sp4rxx

How come it matters so much to be unlocked? As much as there seems to be a an overwhelming negative response to it (i.e. those who care) there are a quite a many more that don’t care and are excited to get the phone, myself included.

It’s really sad that some of the posts I read say that the locked bootloader is holding users back from the phone – “otherwise this would be my phone of choice” – to loosely quote some of the posts I read.

Locks have keys; and if you don’t have the key, you have a locksmith create the key. Someone will decrypt it and allow updates from VZW to pass regardless. If groups can crack software, other knowledgeable groups can open this lock as well.

You people are too quick to judge and way too impatient to wait.

Anonymous

The problem isn’t that it’s locked, it’s that the bootloader is encrypted. No MOTOROLA encryption has been broken to date. Going back to when they started this bs with the droid x.

I respect your opinion, but though we may be “too quick to judge” you are certainly to quick to dismiss our opinions on the matter!

Sp4rxx

“too quick to judge” was intended for those literally CLINGING to the fact that it’s locked; that having the locked bootloader is the ONLY reason they won’t buy a phone. If you are a developer for the masses, I apologize for the (possible) offensiveness of the comment. However, the masses well out-number the devs and it remains true that those (that are not devs) who are just clinging to cling are the ones that I am saying are too quick to judge.

Granted

Yeah I could care less. I’m too busy to hump my phone, with all the crap I do to pay bills. I just care about the specs on the phone, and even then I don’t mind waiting a while to get a new phone. Overall I’m extremely grateful I can afford the luxury of having a smart phone. The only problem I have is the shitty service I get from Verizon, and all the lies they tell me. And it’s way to inconvenient to try and change carriers with all my friends and family currently on the same service. But I’ll still be speaking with my wallet when my contact is up, and probably just buy a watch with a two way communicator, laser, self destruct mode, and of course a calculator.

Alexander Garcia

” At least you can experience that thin body without a chastity belt.” LOL!!! Nicely done Kell! 😉

Congrats MOTO! No one will be buying your phone now…a lot of people waited to see if this was gonna be unlocked as per the Nexus. So guess wat? Galaxy nexus it is…and i know dam well i speak for the majority. Way to literally piss in your pwn cereal bowl MOTO….who ever made that decision should be fired.
Hey….nexus…..how u doin? X-D

Keith Sumner

HI TROLL, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU, WHERE THE F*CK DID SAMSUNG OR VERIZON ANNOUNCE THAT THE NEXUS WOULD BE A 100% UNLOCKABLE DEVICE?! THAT’S RIGHT, THEY DIDN’T ANNOUNCE THAT!! SO YOU AND OTHER F*CKING IDIOTS ARE ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT VERIZON WILL MAGICALLY ALLOW AN UNLOCKABLE DEVICE ON THEIR NETWORK WHICH THEY’VE NEVER DONE BEFORE!

SHOW ME THE PRESS RELEASE THAT SAYS THIS!

I’M ONLY SAYING THIS BECAUSE IT HASN’T BEEN ANNOUNCED, AND JUST BECAUSE OLDER NEXUS PHONES WERE UNLOCKABLE DOESN’T MEAN THIS ONE WILL.

AND I WILL SHUT MY MOUTH WHEN YOU SHOW ME THAT THIS IS OFFICIAL.

LiterofCola

Don’t have to ask, you are mad.

Bear0013

Bro…..lol

Keith Sumner

I’m mad at you idiot trolls making assumptions, where did it say that THIS phone would have an unlocked bootloader, you’re assuming it will because past nexus phones have, but things change, and this is VZW we are talking about.

Dominick DeVito

It’s okay bro – relax. Switch to decaf

Keith Sumner

I don’t drink coffee.

BTW where’s that press release saying the bootloader is unlocked? Just checking. Still don’t have it huh? Didn’t think so.

Dominick DeVito

Imagine if you did. 🙂

Ytram

That’s, uhh, not something you’d put in a press release. The vast majority of people wouldn’t even know what that means.

Let’s turn it around: where’s the press release saying that the bootloader IS locked? Since prior experience points to a Nexus phone having an unlocked bootloader, that seems like the safe assumption to make.

Dominick DeVito

You’ll get your press release when Motorola announces a date for the ICS upgrade on your Bionic.

Harbo99

Where is your press release that it will be locked? We have evidence that flagship devices/nexus devices have always been unlocked. We also have evidence that these unlocked devices have been on VZW’s network. Looks to me like the safe bet is that it will be unlocked. Google did not have to give this device to VZW. They could have easily gone with ATT or Sprint if VZW was demanding to lock it down.

i see your point that nothing has been announced about the bootloader. But I throw this back to you, nothing has been announce about the bootloader. Where is the need to call everyone idiots when all the evidence points to them being right. What does that make you???

Okay. Whoa. You made your point. We get it. Understood. I hope you’re wrong. Happy now?

Guest

you a dick bro?

Dominick DeVito

Do you know what a Nexus phone is or what the idea is behind it? Clearly you don’t.

Don’t be mad ’cause you bought a Bionic

Keith Sumner

Show me the press release that the NEW nexus would have an unlocked bootloader. Just because the last 2 did doesn’t mean this one will. You’re like the idiot on Jerry Springer who says the baby isn’t hs because it’s a boy and his last 2 kids were girls so he can’t have boys.

And yes, the Nexus is meant to be a stock Android experience, that doesn’t imply unlocked, especially being on VZW.

BTW I’m still waiting for that press release.

Boblank84

It wouldn’t be on Verizons network if the forced it to be locked / encrypted. The nexus is a google phone, every device that is the flagship device for a their new os has always been easily unlockable. Don’t wee why this would be any different……Xoom on their network (flagship for honeycomb) unlockable….

Dominick DeVito

Yes, there is no press release and probably won’t be one – so yes, I can’t PROVE to you until the device is in our hands. But every device that ships with a new OS on Verizon has been unlocked (See: OG Droid, Xoom).

Ytram

That’s, uhh.., not something they’d put in a press release. The majority of people wouldn’t even know what it means.

Let’s turn it around: show us the press release that says the Nexus will have a locked bootloader. Based on previous experience with Nexus phones, I’d say the evidence points to the Galaxy Nexus also having it unlocked.

joejoe509

The Nexus is more than a vanilla experience. It’s supposed to embody the Android mantra – open source. Unless Verizon seriously pulled a fast one (unlikely), it’ll be unlocked.

Where’s the press release saying its locked? Because they wouldn’t put a press release out just for saying it was unlocked because the nexus line is unlocked but they would def of put out a Pres release if it was locked…so troll somewhere else

Tom

You have it backwards… There needs to be a press release of it being locked. Seeing as how the Nexus line is a developer line of phones. It would be more prudent to put out a press release of the contrary rather than to affirm it being unlocked. It is a Nexus device, and so it is known that it is a developer phone and thus understood to be unlocked.

Nexus NEVER meant vanilla android, it means it’s DEVELOPER phone. Google made the Nexus One to set up developers with the standard of what an Android phone should be and to make programs and modifications accordingly. They never NEEDED to make a phone for any other reason. If Nexus merely meant Vanilla Android then the G1, Moto Droid and any other phone that had Vanilla Android on it would have been considered a Nexus regardless of the phone manufacturer.

Guest

you still being a dick bro?

joejoe509

It would be WAY bigger news if the Nexus WASN’T unlocked. They would have a legitimate phone geek riot on their hands. The iPhone isn’t locked (per Verizon anyway) and doesn’t have any bloatware. Personally the Verizon iPhone opened the door for the Nexus to land on Verizon. That said… you might be correct. They haven’t outright said it’ll be unlocked. We just assume so because we have reason to expect it – much like it’s no surprise the the RAZR is locked. We expected it. 🙂

BETTER yet Keith, no Samsung phone on vzw or any other carrier is locked!

Try again fanboy!

Guest

you a dick bro?

Alexander Garcia

…or I could get the unlocked global version and run it on at&t’s hspa+ network. 😉

Dominick DeVito

It’s not Moto’s fault, it’s Verizon’s.

It’s Moto’s fault for making it butt fugly.

Granted

I absolutely know you don’t voice the majority. Most people could care less about an unlocked phone, let alone know that it’s locked. There are many more meaningful things going on, like conversing with other humans. It’s hard to see the forest for the trees when drowned in obsession. I know, I’m horribly obsessive.

Did you even read the article? This isn’t Motorola’s decision. If you want to be mad, be mad at Verizon.

Alexander Garcia

did you even READ the article!?

Salty_teabag

I know historically that Nexus devices have always been unlocked, and as unlikely as it is that Google would give in to Verizon and lock it, I’m still a bit nervous. Droid-life crew, any chance we could get a confirmation on the status of the Galaxy Nexus bootloader?

Kris Brandt

How is it legal to force users to keep software they don’t want on a mobile OS? If I buy a Windows PC, I’m free to go in and remove all the crap that I don’t want. What prevents Verizon from forcing a manufacturer to install a hidden app that collects much more than just what you search or controls the hardware on your phone so it can take pictures quietly in the name of “theft prevention” ?

I don’t see tethering as illegal I pay for my unlimited data and I want to use it on my Transformer Prime when im not at home.

John

you and everyone else

to vzw — it’s just about $$$

Anonymous

You have a Transformer Prime?

Anonymous

Another comment thread turned into a Galaxy Nexus thread. I can’t wait til the phone is out so we can all talk about other stuff again.

Anonymous

Ironically, the constant “GALAXY NEXUS RULES ALL” chants in every thread sounds an awful lot like the Apple fanatics and their beloved iPhone.

7.1mm thickness? “Don’t care, gimme Nexus!”

SD port? “Don’t care, gimme Nexus!”

Nearly indestructible? “Don’t care, gimme Nexus!”

Alexander Garcia

Seriously!? I was just thinkin the same exact thing! LOL

Dominick DeVito

Dan Mead:

“Today, we celebrate the first glorious anniversary of the Information
Purification Directives. We have created, for the first time in all
history, a garden of pure ideology — where each worker may bloom, secure
from the pests purveying contradictory truths. Our Unification of
Thoughts is more powerful a weapon than any fleet or army on earth. We
are one people, with one will, one resolve, one cause. Our enemies shall
talk themselves to death with unlocked bootloaders, and we will bury them with their own
confusion. We shall prevail!”

mtbhk44

Dear Motorola:

Go Eff yourself. I’m switching to Samsung.

I’ve had an OG and an X. You need to stand up for yourselves and unlock that bootloader. Don’t give Verizon an option. Until then, bon voyage

Love,

Me

Keith Sumner

u mad

mtbhk44

So mad. Wait, not really.

Anonymous

You’re right, Motorola should refuse to sell the RAZR to Verizon because VZW insists on a locked bootloader that will affect all 750 Verizon customers who even know what a bootloader IS. Moto should care more about the developer community than MILLIONS of dollars in revenue.

Do you guys seriously not understand how business works?

Dominick DeVito

Uh um – I would say a little more than 750 people know what a bootloader is. And yes it is important – however, this just makes it easier to decide on the G-Nex anyway.

I would agree with you that it is business – Moto (as in any OEm) has to distinguish itself from the rest of the Android manufacturer pack. Having this phone “blessed” by VZW as a corporare friendly device is what Moto is after – not us phone geeks.

It’s all in the contract. When you use Verizon as a service or get a phone subsidized from them, they basically can ass rape you and you can’t do a damn thing about it because……..it’s in the contract you agreed to.

EC8CH

I hope the Asian man who’s a$$h0le they sew my lips around eats a sensible diet.

Granted

Ohhrowww! It’s going to be a big one Kyyruleee!

Anonymous

I just watched the Human Cent-i-Pad South Park Episode the other night. I felt guilty laughing.

Anonymous

Good Lord… seriously?!

nick

i love this blog BUT the reporting can be so snarky sometimes
“…we thought we would bring it up one last time. So here we go.”
or
all those “not that its any surprise” (because we reported this last week, har har)
or
“we have zillions of leaked pictures of this phone by now but…heres some more”

As a 10 year VZW subscriber, I know all about their lame decisions to try and squeeze more money from subscribers. I had this really awesome Moto feature phone (one of the first to really feature a micro SD card) and everyone else in the world could make their own ringtones, but I couldn’t. I was furious.

While this is far from surprising, I decided to submit some feedback to VZW on the issue. Sure it probably won’t do any good, but if enough people submitted the type of feedback I did (thought-out, non-attacking feedback) rather than what I expect they get on a daily basis (attacking, probably somtimes vulgar, derisive feedback) then they might actually think about it. I don’t know ANYONE that uses VZW apps, certainly not power users, but not regular people like my step-mom or my fiance. They can scream “It’s more secure!!!” all they want, but it really comes down to VZW wanting to have their apps, and their advertising all over their phones.

That being said, I like this phone a lot. I’m wondering why some of the brilliant people over at XDA wouldn’t be able to reverse engineer one of the unlock tools from the international versions to work with the US versions. Admittedly I’m not an expert on bootloaders so it might come down to different encryption or something.

I’m probably going to pre-order this phone, decide if I like it, and if I don’t or if I get hands on with the Nexus, return it and get the G-Nex.

Kierra

Idc, I dont root.

Dominick DeVito

Another fabulous product from Verizon – thanks again Big Red.

We will have our revenge with the G-Nex (we hope).

GotSka81

Still a moot point…LOCKED and ENCRYPTED are two different things. Moto is going the extra mile by encrypting the bootloaders, not by locking them. Lock a bootloader, it will be unlocked. Encrypt a bootloader…different story.

Anonymous

Agree but sites like these just say boohoo it’s locked every phone( minus the nexus) is locked but moto encrypts their bootloaders which is a whole new level.

Bullet Tooth Tony

I can see the headline now… “Yes folks, the Galaxy Nexus is unlockable on every carrier in the world besides Verizon Wireless.”

It is a known fact that while the rest of the world has had progressive cell phone plans and deals.. the US carriers are still stuck in the “squeeze every penny out of the sheeple” mode.
It is time for Congress to step in here and spank these carriers and put them down to their place.

They have absolutely no right to lock down features of phone that I am paying a fortune to own.

Jak_341

Great. Just what we need. More government regulations. No thanks.

Anonymous

This is not government interference.. This is government doing it’s basic job of protecting citizens from illegal practices of monopolies.
Yes, I am a lover of small government… but just as I need the government to protect my basic civil rights.. I need the government to stop monopolies on infringing on them.

Jak_341

What rights are being denied? I don’t think cell phone bootloaders qualify as civil rights. And you have every right as a consumer to pay the ETF as stated in your contract and walk away to find a carrier more of your liking. There is no monopoly here.

Anonymous

of course there is a monopoly!. the Droid Razr is being offered by only 1 carrier in the US in case you forgot.

The right that is being denied is my access to all the features that is built into the phone that I paid full price to own!!

seems like you’d be OK if car manufacturers locked down the horsepower of the bmw that you’d buy and demanded a premium if you wanted them to be release the additional hp.

Jak_341

Again. It is not your right. Verizon has dictated what they feel as acceptable terms of usage on THEIR network they built with their capital. You merely pay for usage on the network with your phone by the terms of service you agreed to in your contract. You, as a consumer, can take your business elsewhere if you do not agree. AT&T or Sprint may be more for you then if you want an unlocked bootloader.

Anonymous

Yes it is a consumer’s right. Just because Verizon puts it up on a contract.. doesn’t make it legit. The fact that the rest of the world lets has it unlocked.. tells you what verizon’s intentions are. So the attitude.. “take it or leave it” doesn’t apply when there is a clear violation of a consumer’s right.

Unlocking the bootloader (and thus the sim) does not violate Verizon’s carrier services in any way.. because..

1. An unlocked bootloader on a verizon phone doesn’t mean that the consumer automatically can switch carriers.. if he does.. he obviously would have to pay etf.

2. For the reason said above.. the device will not be bought by a consumer simply to be used in a foreign country (it is already available in foreign countries).

3. The only reason why verizon wants to do this is because they want consumers to pay a premium when they out of the country and force them to pay verizon’s international call and data plans. Verizon is purely doing this because they don’t want consumer’s who travel abroad to put in a local sim card while they are there… and also because Verizon doesn’t want it’s consumers removing the for-money apps (bloatware) that verizon thrusts on them.

4. Bottom line.. Verizon is disabling a feature already built into the phone.. purely for the purpose of sucking more money out of you.

Not to agree with Jak….but the Bugatti Veyron does exactly this. They limit your horsepower until you pay additional fees and take a course and then it is only unlocked on designated racetracks via a special key…

EC8CH

here’s my argument…

Verizon preinstalls their navigation service app on my phone.

I don’t want it there because of three reasons:
1. Google Maps Is Free
2. VZNavigotor isn’t
3. I’m not mentally disabled

I however can not uninstall it thanks to a locked and encrypted bootloader policy.

To me this seems like VZW is abusing their power to push their products onto customers.

Jak_341

What is it impacting you having VZ Navigator on your phone? Are you being forced to use it? It is impacting your ability to call, email, surf the web, or text? And even if you were forced to use it, that is a decision that VZW makes. It is within your rights to refuse a renew of contract based on this. Or you could pay the ETF and abandon your contract. There is no abuse of power here. It’s their network. Their rules. You either play by them or use your power as a consumer to take your ball and go home.

EC8CH

“What is it impacting you having VZ Navigator on your phone?”

It’s on my phone. I don’t want it there. I can’t take it off.

Companies get investigated for practices like this all the time (see Google putting it’s financial services at the top of it’s search results), but they rarely are forced to change their questionable practices due to lavish amounts of corporate lobbying and political campaign spending.

… true story.

Anonymous

Agreed! Remember the Netscape vs. IE debacal with Microsoft and Windows in the 90’s?!?! This is the same case here. Verizon can eat their bloatware!!

EC8CH

Exactly… companies with large portions of markets with limited competition should not be allowed to abuse that position to push their version of products onto consumers.

EC8CH

BTW… “THEIR” network… uses “OUR” airspace

maybe they should be forced to play by “OUR” rules, or they can just take “THEIR” ball and go home?

which they agreed to when they leased “OUR” airspace for their LTE network.

Dlokey22

Our airspace?? We own airspace now? If we do, then I like my share of the 700mhz spectrum.

Anonymous

Our taxes pay for the FCC, which owns all radio airspace in the US. So yes it is the collective ours that Verizon leases.

EC8CH

exactly

Dlokey22

Cool, then I’ll contact FCC to get my share. So I guess we own the white house, nasa space shuttle as well?

Anonymous

Yep. And military equipment as well. In fact, I have military equipment sitting out in the warehouse right now.

EC8CH

ummm… yep we kinda do.

Ever watch Top Gun???

“Maverick, you just did an incredibly brave thing. What you should have done was land your plane! You don’t own that plane, the tax payers do!”

EC8CH

I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt, and assume you just made that post before you allowed any clear thoughts to form in your brain.

Dlokey22

Ah thanks, you mad bro?? 🙂

EC8CH

nope… just more informed than you apparently

Dlokey22

Cool. Hope that makes you feel better about yourself.

EC8CH

No, not really. I doesn’t feel like that big of an accomplishment really.

Dlokey22

You sad bro?

Pennywise

In this case, if the VZNavigator prevented use of other similar software, such as Google Maps, then you have a point. Alas, you have no point.

EC8CH

When MS baked IE into Windows nothing was preventing you from installing and using similar software like Netscape Navigator. I think MS spent some time in court for that one.

Alas, you have no sense of history.

Pennywise

Because Microsoft wouldn’t bake Netscape into their OS. Netscape (Time Warner’s) assertions garnered support from the Govt. because the Govt. found many (un-related) anti-compete practices being implored by Microsoft and it was their opportunity to take them down a peg.

That is not happening here so again you have no point. VZ Navigator is included right along-side Google Maps and in no-way attempts to limit or prevent you from using non-VZ Navigator software.

It follows from your (ill)logic) that Microsoft should not be able to include Calculator software… or VPN functionality… Man, Microsoft’s inclusion of Solitaire in Windows sure is destroying the e-card gaming market…

EC8CH

I agree you have a point. Some applications are Core to the OS, and some are trivial to competition such as a calculator. In this case however, Verizon is forcing an entire suite of applications which are all portals to their paid services. These applications are neither core to the OS nor trivial in that they lead to paid services in a market with other competitive services. Not only do they come preinstalled, but the customer is prevented from removing them if they choose they never want to use these services.

For a company like Verizon who shares the majority of control over the US wireless marketplace with only one other company, heavy handed practices such as this could easily been seen as abusive made possible by their market leading position much in the same way the government was looking to take Microsoft “down a peg” as you say.

Yes I would. I sign a contract to agree to their terms of service. If I do not like what is stated, I do not sign the contract. It really is that simple. Verizon has made the choice to lock and encrypt their bootloaders. I either abide by this, or not renew and go elsewhere.

Anonymous

Of course, when all the carriers offer identical crap and buy up the competition, then you’re screwed.

Pennywise

No. No one is screwed. In your proposed hypothetical, there are already more Govt regulations than are needed, frankly, to protect consumers. We certainly, do not need more.

Granted

If it meant the government wasn’t stepping in, then shit yeah I would.

Anonymous

Great! Another conservative looking out for their bank account. What do you work for Verizon? Are you making money for every locked and encrypted phone?? The carriers in this country are getting out of control with their limitations of service. If I have unlimited data and bought the phone, why can’t I do what I want with it. I shouldn’t be stuck with crap software/bloatware. They need to, by force if necessary, allow us the option to unlock and do what we want with the phone that we bought with are own money.

Here’s the problem, political ideology aside, the fat cats in Washington D.C. are in bed with the cell phone providers anyway. It’s all about who will give the best perks and keep them in office. It happens on both sides of the aisle, and if you believe otherwise, you are fooling yourself. Until we remove lobbyist influence, these things are going to happen.

Anonymous

Typical conservative mumbo jumbo. Liberals are not in bed with lobbyists. Those fat cat conservatives just want more oil to make them richer. The Govt needs more control over things and to control profits made by these major organizations and companies to feed their political ties.

foreWard

you must be somking some good stuff if you think it is just the repubs in the lobbyists pockets….

Pennywise

It’s real, REAL simple: Ready? Are you really ready? Okay, I will bestow some greatness upon you: Don’t buy it.

Or buy it and throw it on ground you own; it’s your prerogative. But when you get permission to use Verizon’s Network, you will do-so on their terms.

We don’t need Govt’ regulating one company because you don’t like what they are selling. You have options. You have freedom.

Well don’t you sound like a typical conservative ass. Just because you may have a few years on me does not mean you have any more intelligence then a house hold toaster. Conservatives and their actions is what has ruined this country. If Bush didn’t want to prove to his daddy that he could get Saddam, we wouldn’t be is such a hellish situation. More regulations are needed on all carriers before we as all bankrupt from our damn cell phone plans.

EC8CH

“Just what we need. More government regulations.”

Correct. Case in point… this.

John

It’s to crack down on unauthorized tethering.

EC8CH

would of thought tiered data and throttling takes care of that…

nope… this is just straight BS because they can

Anonymous

Tiered data does nothing for those grandfathered in who do the illegal tethering anyway.

You pay for unlimited data for your mobile device. Using it to tether is in violation to the contract YOU signed. It is a term of service. You agreed to pay for the service as described in the contract, so don’t act as if something is being taken away from you when it isn’t allowed. If you want to tether, pay for it.

Nick

would anyone else be fine if they combined tethering and normal data by default and started allowing more control to the customers? Like we pay $50 for 4gb of combined data or whatever, and can tether all we want on our plan. I wouldn’t mind paying more if it gave us more control.

EC8CH

read: “and throttling”

Pennywise

Perhaps Verizon should just grant ‘free tethering’ to everyone with a smartphone and double/triple/quadruple (whatever is necessary) all of their data-plan rates…

o0HERO0o

I fail to understand why the oem’s allow this. If they don’t provide awesome phones to the carrier the carrier tanks and dies. So why not say “No Verizon, if you want the Droid RAZR then you’ll get it unlocked, otherwise you don’t get it or any other phone for that matter.”

Anonymous

because locking their phones makes them more secure for moto and gives them a better chance with businesses and what not who want very secure phones. Sorry the 1% who knows what a bootloader is is not going to ruin moto. If that was the case they would have went under after the droid x, yet moto phones are still selling well.

Sad fact is we our powerless against Big Red – None of us have the balls to drop them since they do have the best network and no other providers can compete with them. Life must go on thus VZW can give use the F You all they want and we can’t do anything about it nor can Moto.

If we even remotely want VZW to listen it would take a large volume of unsubscribes from their service talking millions to have an impact or else this topic is a waste of time and blog space.

Anonymous

Guess you completely ignore all the samsung phones on verizon which are unlockable.

Billgates

Who likes samsung

Anonymous

Samsung is the worst

Anonymous

Well going by how many phones they sell I would say a lot more than like moto=)

Anonymous

All phones except Nexus devices and the XOOM are locked. Samsung and HTC just do a horrible job at locking them tightly. Moto does it too good.

There is a difference between an OEM unlock and finding a way to hack a bootloader to unlock it. Hacking one, like you are talking with Samsung’s phones, is not an “unlocked” bootloader.

While Moto cites VZW’s request to lock the bootloader, I find it hard to believe that they require the Ft Knox level of encryption that Moto puts forth. That is fine for a military or enterprise device, but should not be the consumer standard.

Glen E Ston

Someone, somewhere will find a way to hack a perticular phone- It’s just a matter of time. It’s too bad that things have to be done that way.

Anonymous

Yes they are all unlockable but until the Galaxy Nexus launches Samsung hasn’t produced any good phones on verizon that are actually worth buying

If this all the doing of VZW, why are Moto phones that have a super encrypted bootloader?

PS- Just because somebody disagrees with you, doesn’t make them a troll.

Anonymous

also all us carriers moto phones are locked down on sprint, at&t, verizon and tmo

Keith Sumner

I didn’t say that it was VZW’s doing that Moto’s phones are locked, it could be, but I wasn’t implying that.

Anonymous

Pretty sure that Google would not allow anyone to release a Nexus device and an Android experience with a locked bootloader. That defeats the whole purpose of their Nexus experience phones…so yeah, it’ll be unlocked and is the reason we care so much about it.

Remember that Verizon and Moto teamed up to release the XOOM which is also unlockable. Verizon has done it before.

Guest

you still being a dick bro?

Anonymous

i dont understand why someone would buy this phone with the intention of unlocking it knowing the nexus is coming. no one is that stupid.

John

a lot don’t care for the stuff we know about it. they will see the word RAZR and they’ll jump on it like fly on shit

Anonymous

” but at least you can experience that thin body without a chastity belt.” — Great line.

dima

And this is why most of us will be buying the Galaxy Nexus. Sorry Moto, hopefully when google finishes the aquisition that will empower you to grow a pair.

Anonymous

It’s not quite as big of a deal with Vanilla Android running on it, but do we have any idea on whether Verizon will require Google/Samsung to lock down the Galaxy Nexus?

John

despite what others think, i still think vzw will find a way to do something stupid assed to the nexus

Anonymous

I’m partially thinking this too, why lock down the Moto devices, and leave it open a Nexus device?…what is the motive here, as VZW could have gotten the SGS2.

Glen E Ston

I’m sure verizon will disable the ability to disable apps.. But on the bright side, it’s at least a skin’less Android experience. I cant stand that motoblur crap.

EC8CH

nay… I bet VZW thinks no one will buy the G-Nex anyway because it won’t have robot slaying ninja chick commercials

Lgreg64

VZW is not trying to stop people who buy there phones because of the commercials. they are trying to stop people that read sites like this.

Anonymous

No, but they also don’t expect it to be a mass market device either. It’s viewed as a dev phone. It’s not really going to be marketed by VZ either.

The RAZR is the phone for the masses. Some people need to look outside the DL box. The population here is less than 1% of their subscriber base. Most of their customers do not think or act like readers here.

And no Verizon didn’t touch the Nexus, unless you count standard hotspot plans (aka no free tethering) but you shouldn’t.

EC8CH

this is exactly what I expected to see.

If the G-Nex is sitting on VZW shelves right next to the RAZR… I bet it will sell it’s far share, with or without robot ninja chick commercials 😛

ZepFloyd can you throw us a date for the Nexus at all? You seem to always have on point information!

Anonymous

I’ve heard the 10th (also very widely publicly rumored) and 17th from people, better sources say 17th. So one of them I suppose.

KRSwon

Almost everywhere I’ve browsed that uses Google ads, by the the page click, I’ve seen advertising for the nexus. So I’m not sure if its Sammy or Google, but one of them is getting the word out. And Verizon is only showing upcoming features for the Razr so far.

mons

I’m thinking they’ll get their bloatware on it somehow, but ICS has the ability to disable apps, so it wouldn’t be a huge deal.

Anonymous

and vzw has the ability to disable whatever it wants in ICS. disabling “disabling apps” will be one of the first things vzw will do when ics starts being released on other phones. just like they disable native tethering.

Anonymous

Don’t be silly… perhaps on a Motorola phone yes, but not a Nexus. They call it a Nexus for a reason. If it were not a Nexus they wouldn’t call it a Nexus… lol Everyone needs to chill and go read about what Nexus means….

EC8CH

I believe AT&T disabled native tethering on the Nexus 1, so some tweaking by the networks has happened, but I agree with you that Google probably takes a pretty firm stance on keeping the Nexus devices as open as possible.

Kevin Parlee

As much as nexus wants to be nexus, verizon may not skin it but they will lock it and disable apps imo. only time will tell

Anonymous

You still are not understanding. If this were to happen the phone would not be a Nexus.

Anonymous

well in this case i was generalizing, that for ics phones in the future this will be a given. but yes, i also wouldn’t put it past them on the gnex.

Anonymous

Rooted Tethering still works though =)

Anonymous

wish it was being sold straight from google like the original nexus. stupid verizon BS

bigrob60

Not sure if they will disable the disabling apps.VZ probably gets a kickback for just having the app on the phone. Not if you use it or not. Time will tell.

Granted

Bravo on your stupendous avatar. I have two of his people juice sucking brethren tattooed on my right arm, and recently found and bought two of the different action figures. They are hard as crap to find, and usually top over a hundred. But likely I got a good deal on them both.

tpags

Why would they disable the “disabling app”? There is gonna be no VZW crapware to disable.

Anonymous

i hear that. i don’t know how in the world everyone thinks they’re going to allow a phone with an unlockable bootloader on their network and also be the ones to sell it to you. they’ve been working so hard to crack down on this that i just can’t believe that they’ll do a 180 and sell the masses a developer device that can be unlocked easily by anyone. then those evil tetherers start to appear.

i seriously don’t understand how anyone can think differently about verizon and the gnex. vanilla ics? sure. unlockable bootloader? given their history, how? i hope i’m wrong.

Anonymous

Again, the phone would not be called a Nexus if Verizon were going to lock it down and screw it up. You have nothing to worry about.

Sure it could be all screwed up but if it were it would not be called a Nexus.

Anonymous

On the bright side I do not believe Samsung has yet to release an Android device with a “locked” bootloader.

Anonymous

It wouldn’t be a Nexus if it were going to be locked. They would call it something else. So everyone has nothing to worry about.

As far as the Razr… Wow that is some bull….

Justin Kos

a requirement of a nexus device is that it has to be unlocked… winning!

Anonymous

I am right with you, My apologies to Moto for locking the bootloaders, Thee must be some legal ramifications or something on why they just don’t allow it it here in the US. Hopefully Moto, will change this for the better.

Anonymous

Has it been made official I.e. press release from Verizon or Samsung reguarding an actual unlocked bootloader. It just seems like every one is assuming this because the phone is labeled as a nexus, unfortionatly I think it is just going to mean a vanilla experience of ics and no unlocked bootloader per verizon.

adala

Anyone know if the Verizon Nexus is a global phone? If so, can I also use it on AT&T. For my current situation, I have service from both networks.

No the Nexus is not a global phone. And no you can’t use it on ATT since they’re GSM and Verizon is CDMA…..

Some Comment

I’m pretty sure the person knows what GSM and CDMA is because of the initial global phone question…

Anyway, other than the Storm, Verizon blocks US carriers on their global devices. So an unofficial hack has to be created like the ones already mentioned.

Anonymous

Even if it was a global phone if you look at Verizon’s past global phones they have a sim country code check and they wont accept any American sim cards. they also lack the American 3g radios

Anonymous

Not exactly accurate. I used an AT&T SIM in my Storm back then, yes the 3G doesn’t work here because of the frequency differences, but for voice and 2G EDGE it works just fine after Verizon’s own SIM unlock.

Anonymous

my old blackberry 8830 that i unlocked using verizon wont take any American sims and all the world droids are the same even if you unlock it.

Anonymous

Look you’re wrong, or would you like my brother to call you from his unlocked Incredible 2?

Anonymous

no one has asked me to unlock a incredible 2 yet but as for the droid 2 and droid pro what i said stands

Anonymous

Not true. http://www.mydroidworld.com/forums/android-hacks/8942-tbh-us-gsm-band-unlock-droid-2-global-pro-update-zip-public-release.html

Wonder if it’s possible to take something from the international version in order to unlock Verizon’s version?

Anonymous

I doubt it, unlocking it is a matter of have the right encryption keys. Unless Motorola intentionally FUBAR’s so they can make customers happy and play stupid to Verizon. “Whoops, sorry we use the same encryption keys on the other networks…OUR BAD”

Anonymous

Every time I pay my Verizon bill, I can feel them on the other end giving me the finger and laughing.

You should see the other carriers’ service in my state (and surrounding state’s as well) its complete crap. VZW dominates here because of their coverage. AT&T STILL doesn’t have 3G back in my home town. My friend has been holding out for 3 years. He bought the 3G iPhone after being promised he’d have access soon. Yeah he has access when he leaves town. Before you think its in the middle of nowhere, it’s not. It’s not a major city, but it is along I-59, a major interstate, which one would think they’d care about having service.

Meanwhile, I’m about to have 4G LTE service where I live now, and my hometown will probably have it in 2012. T-Mobile is non-existent outside of major cities in our state.

VZW owns us.

Anonymous

Lucky for me, I live in a city where coverage is solid among all the carriers….travel is my biggest issue.

Glen E Ston

Yep, I feel the same. It’s too bad that they are the best option in my area. There’s no way Im giving up my unlimited data for AT&Ts 2gb data or Sprints horrible coverage.

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